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FRONTLINE NEWS

“[Achievement of our

mission] depends on

the work [correctional

professionals] do each

and every day — and

there can be no justice

in the absence of your

contributions.” - Karol

V. Mason,

Assistant

Attorney

General

DOC Helps to Honor Fallen Officers This year's annual Wreath Laying Ceremony and Honor Guard Competition were held on

Saturday, May 3rd at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. Marking

the start of National Correctional Employees Week, this event brings jurisdictions together

from across the region to honor correctional professionals who have tragically lost their lives

in the line of duty and to pay tribute to those still courageously serving in jails, prisons and

other institutions throughout the country.

Now in its 23rd year, the ceremony is hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of

Governments (MWCOG) Corrections Chief Committee which includes representatives from

the District of Columbia, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William,

Montgomery, Prince Georges and Charles counties.

The event's keynote speaker was the Honorable Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney

General from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP). In quoting

the Department of Justice's mission, she conveyed a message that exemplified the

importance of this annual event...[achievement of their mission] depends on the work

[correctional professionals] do each and every day--- and there can be no justice in the

absence of [their] contributions.

Following her remarks, Craig Floyd, Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Museum,

began the roll call of fallen officers as members of the different honor guards laid roses for

each one. With the retiring of the colors, the wreath laying ceremony ended and the honor

guard teams from each participating jurisdiction prepared for the competition. This year the

Honor Guard team from Prince Georges County placed first, the District of Columbia second

and Fairfax County third. The award for best dressed team went to Fairfax County.

DC Department of Corrections Newsletter May 2014

Volume 2, Issue 3

D C D O C H o n o r G u a r d c o m p e t e a t t h e a n n u a l W r e a t h L a y i n g C e r e m o n y a n d H o n o r G u a r d c o m p e t i t i o n .

P h o t o c r e d i t : D a r b y B a h a m

DOC Employees Honored a t Annua l DC One Fund Ceremony

Honor ing the Vo lun teers who “Lend Hands and Change L ives ”

Meet Warden WJ Smi th NexTa lk Lap tops He lp to Serve Deaf and Hard o f Hear ing Popu la t ion

DOC a t tends 10 th Ann iversary o f Language Access Ac t

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By Sylvia Lane

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DOC Employees Honored at Annual DC One Fund Ceremony The Department of Corrections once again exceeded

expectations, as it was honored for being the number one agency

to raise money for the annual DC One Fund campaign.

DOC raised a total of $90,386.57 with 27 percent participation, a

number that far exceeded any other agency in the city, and also

helped to cement the Public Safety cluster as the number one

cluster in the District for two years in a row.

The ceremony, which featured live music from F.A.M.E

(Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education) and

performances by the East of the River Boys and Girls Steelband,

was held in the Old Council Chambers at One Judiciary Square on

February 25. Following remarks from Mayor Vincent C. Gray,

Director Tom Faust and DC Labor Representative, Anntoinette

“Toni” White-Richardson presented certificates to the top three agencies in both the below 500 employees and above 500

employees categories. When DOC’s name was called, staff excitedly made their way to the front to represent the agency and

its efforts. “I [am] proud to be part of a giving organization like DC DOC,” said Laurinne Ellis, Co-chairperson for DOC’s One

Fund Committee. “To be the shining example not only of labor and management partnering, but to show the city and nation

the results of that partnership. The neediest in our region are that much better off thanks to the compassion and generosity

exhibited at the DC Department of Corrections.”

In a moving turn of events, Mayor Gray, Director Faust, and the One Fund Committee surprised Ms. White-Richardson with a

plaque honoring her commitment to the city and to the One Fund.

Honoring the Volunteers who “Lend Hands and Change Lives” The Department of Corrections honored its volunteers in

the Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony on April 9, 2014.

The ceremony, which was held at the Saint Elizabeth

Hospital Auditorium, was titled “Lending Hands and

Changing Lives” and had a turnout of over 150 people.

Following remarks from Deputy Director Carolyn Cross,

Director Tom Faust, and the guest speaker, Judge

Rainey Brandt, plaques were presented to the “George

Strawn” Awardees for excelling as the top 10 volunteers

of the year. However, over 65 in total organizations were

recognized for their exemplary work with the agency.

“It’s important that we honor them, because they are

volunteering their time,” said Reverend Linda Greene,

DOC Volunteer Coordinator and Mistress of Ceremony

for the evening. “Because of the amount of work they do

and what they do — they are so committed and give so

much — they deserve to be appreciated.”

Reverend Greene also acknowledged that the ceremony serves as not just recognition for the volunteers, but as incentive for

them to keep volunteering. “The volunteers get excited and motivated by the ceremony, so it helps us going forward as well,”

she said.

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By Darby Baham

D i r e c t o r F a u s t p o s e s w i t h s o m e o f t h e v o l u n t e e r s h o n o r e d a t t h e c e r e m o n y .

P h o t o : B r i d g e t R e a v i s - T y l e r

D C D O C p o s e s w i t h M a y o r G r a y a t t h e D C O n e F u n d c e r e m o n y .

P h o t o : D a r b y B a h a m

By Darby Baham

Getting to know Warden Smith

William J. Smith has a distinguished career in corrections, including having previously served as Warden with DCDOC from October, 2006 to October, 2007. For the past two and a half years, he served as Deputy Director of Operations for the Prince Georges County, MD. Department of Correction, where he was responsible for planning, leading, organizing, and controlling 493 sworn uniform personnel in all aspects of custody and control of a Detention Facility. Warden Smith began his career 44 years ago as a correctional officer in the Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland and went on to serve in numerous roles, including but not limited to Security Chief in Patuxent, Director of Security Operations in Baltimore, MD, Assistant Warden at the Maryland House of Correction — Annex in Jessup, MD, Commissioner of the Maryland Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, and Warden of the Patuxent Institution. He has experience in all aspects of juvenile and adult corrections. His career also includes Warden of the Patuxent Institution and Commissioner of the Maryland Division of Pretrial Detention & Services, and he served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps, military police. Warden Smith is an ACA Certified Correctional Executive and is a skilled small arms expert. He is also skilled in word processing, data management, correctional facility management, and tactical planning.

Profile:

William J. Smith Mr. William J. Smith rejoins the

DOC family as Warden after

having previously served in that

capacity from October 2006 to

October 2007. He has a

distinguished career in corrections

and returns with a positive outlook

in the Department.

Please read below to learn more

about Warden Smith.

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Q: How long have you worked in corrections?

A: I started my career in corrections as a civilian on December 27, 1966.

All, minus three years were spent in corrections. I mentioned as a civilian

because my last two years in the Marine Corps, I served as the base

“Provost Marshall” for the United States Naval Academy. My duties

included managing a small military brig.

Q: What influenced your decision to return to DC DOC as Warden?

A: I felt that I still have a lot to offer and I could impart the vast knowledge

I’ve acquired over the years to younger, committed correctional

professionals.

Q: What are some of your top priorities as Warden?

A: I’m committed to bringing the Director’s vision to fruition. Specifically,

increasing staff morale; creating a safe and secure environment for staff

and inmates; making our facility a model for others to follow; and

increasing the level of professionalism amongst staff as it relates to uniform

bearing, carriage and deportment.

Q: What are you most looking forward to?

A: I am most looking forward to when we as an agency become single

minded in a professional approach to the challenges of our profession.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself—some of your hobbies and interests.

A: I’m an avid sports fan. My favorites are football, basketball, and track

and field. I’m also a gym rat, as I strongly believe in physical fitness as a

lifestyle. I love fusion smooth jazz.

P h o t o c r e d i t : D a r b y B a h a m

Masthead

Publisher/Editor/Writer

Sylvia Lane

Writer/Editor/Layout

Editor/Photographer

Darby Baham

Contributing Writer

Eric Tagne

Contributing Photographer

Bridget Reavis-Tyler

To submit story

suggestions, please

contact Sylvia Lane

(sylvia.lane2@dc.gov) or

Darby Baham

(darby.baham@dc.gov)

NexTalk Laptops Help to Serve

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Population This March, the Department of Corrections began conducting training for fifty (50) staff

members and contractors to use NexTalk video remote interpreting (VRI) services as

part of an agency-wide initiative to provide effective communication tools for deaf and

hard of hearing inmates.

DOC is the first jail facility to use the VRI service in the District, Maryland, and VA

region, which provides instant access to sign language interpreters for American,

English, and Spanish sign languages. Once logged in, individuals are able to connect to

a live interpreter via the web-based service, allowing for greater access to sign

language interpreters for inmates.

“Although VRI technology isn't new, providing it in a correctional setting is,” said Sarah

Rand, DOC Risk Manager and ADA Coordinator. “DC DOC should take great pride in

that.”

Since the training, the Department deployed NexTalk laptops at six locations in April,

including the AAS Program Coordinator’s Office, the Central Cell Block (CCB) Clinic,

the Central Detention Facility (CDF) Command Center, CDF Medical, Correctional

Treatment Facility (CTF) Command Center, and CTF Medical. The laptops at the

Program Coordinator’s Office, the command centers, and the CCB Clinic are all

portable and can be signed out from their home location for use around the facility.

DOC Attends 10th Anniversary of Language Access Act To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the DC Language

Access Act, the Office of Human Rights commissioned a report

from the Urban Institute to reflect on 10 years of implementation

and make recommendations on how to further improve government

services for those who are limited and non-English proficient (LEP/

NEP).

This report was released at their 10th Anniversary event titled,

"The Road to a Global DC: Ten Years of Language Access and

Immigrant Inclusion" held on April 15, 2014 at the Carnegie

Library at Mt. Vernon Square. The ceremony, which began with a

speech from Mayor Vincent C. Gray, provided a great opportunity

for further discussion surrounding the findings of the report.

“The findings describe a pioneering Language Access Act that emerged through a community-based effort led by the DC

Language Access Coalition, made up of diverse immigrant-serving organizations that recognized the importance of ensuring

full access to DC’s LEP/NEP residents,” said Eric Tagne, DOC Language Access Team member. “However, they also

acknowledge the complexity of assessing the language needs of an extremely diverse LEP/NEP population, across a wide

array of agencies and with limited resources.”

Following the release, a panel discussion and reception took place.

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E r i c T a g n e , m e m b e r o f D O C ’ s L a n g u a g e A c c e s s T e a m , p o s e s w i t h

G r e t t a R i v e r o a n d S t e p h a n i e F r a n k l i n f r o m t h e O f f i c e o f H u m a n R i g h t s .

By Darby Baham

By Eric Tagne and Darby Baham